by Michael Welber……. “Masquerading as a pro-solar energy initiative, this proposed constitutional amendment, supported by some of Florida’s major investor-owned electric utility companies, actually seeks to constitutionalize the status quo.” Those are the words of Florida Supreme Court Justice Barbara Pariente who wrote a strongly worded dissent back in March when Amendment 1 came up for approval by the court. She went on to call the proposal “a masquerade and a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

A new organization has been formed in the Keys to promote training of solar installers. Calling itself the Solar Education Association of the Florida Keys, the group will work to create career training for the solar industry in the island chain. The effort also aims to help educate locals about how to tap which solar power to reduce energy expenditures. The Florida Keys attract people from all over the world for one primary reason: the plentiful sunshine. The Keys get 259 days of sun, on [continue reading…]

by Michael Welber……. Anyone who has followed this issue of hydraulic fracturing or fracking might be more than a little surprised to discover that companies want to frack right here in the Sunshine State. Most people consider it something that happens elsewhere. Like Canada. Or New York. It turns out that as recently as December 2012, Florida began receiving applications for permits to drill new wells in the Panhandle, in southwest Florida near Naples and Ft. Myers, and in the sensitive ecosystems around Big Cypress [continue reading…]

By Michael Welber… A large number of people all over the country will take to the streets on Saturday to express their displeasure about what the mega-corporation Monsanto is doing to farms, consumers, and, quite literally, the world. Whether Monsanto gives a rat’s rectum about these marches is open to question but they certainly didn’t change their rapacious and damaging ways after last year’s march. If you want to take action but don’t think that walking around in the hot sun, carrying a sign, will [continue reading…]